Houston completes the comeback
Astros secure series against Mariners with walk-off win in extras
Sep 7, 2021, 10:48 pm
Alex Bregman forced extras with a homer, and Carlos Correa delivered the walk-off hit against the Mariners on Tuesday. Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images.
Alex Bregman forced extras with a homer, and Carlos Correa delivered the walk-off hit against the Mariners on Tuesday.
After a lopsided win to start the series, the Astros had the chance to lock up another series win if they could get a victory against Seattle on Tuesday. Though it looked bleak late, they would force extras and ultimately get the walk-off win.
Final Score (10 innings): Astros 5, Mariners 4
Astros' Record: 81-57, first in the AL West
Winning Pitcher: Ryne Stanek (2-4)
Losing Pitcher: Yohan Ramirez (1-3)
Houston grabs a lead, Odorizzi gives it up
FREE CHICKEN‼️#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/a98SPk7YCI
— Houston Astros (@astros) September 8, 2021
After getting just one baserunner in the first two innings against Logan Gilbert, the Astros put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the third. Jose Altuve started it with a solo homer to start the scoring, then a Michael Brantley single in the next at-bat set up an RBI double by Alex Bregman, doubling the lead to 2-0.
Jake Odorizzi held that lead well through the first four innings, allowing just two singles over that span, holding the Mariners scoreless. That changed in the top of the fifth, where he would watch the two-run lead evaporate after a leadoff single followed by a double set up a two-out two-RBI double to tie things up. He finished the inning but would go no further. His final line: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 66 P.
Seattle goes in front
First out of Houston's bullpen was Yimi Garcia in the top of the sixth, and he would watch Kyle Seager launch a go-ahead solo homer to start the frame. Garcia finished the sixth, then Phil Maton took over in the top of the seventh. With a timely double play behind him, he erased a one-out walk to face the minimum and keep it a one-run game.
After stranding a leadoff double in the bottom of the seventh, Houston moved on to Kendall Graveman to face his former team in the top of the eighth. He disposed of them in order, getting a 1-2-3 inning to give his offense another crack at tying or going in front. They would go down scoreless in the bottom of the eighth, resulting in Ryan Pressly coming in to try and give them a last chance in the bottom of the ninth.
Bregman ties it to force extras, Correa walks it off as Astros secure series win
Pressly would instead allow Seattle to add to their lead, giving up a one-out double and then an RBI single to make it a 4-2 game before he finished the inning. Houston went to work in the bottom of the ninth, getting a leadoff walk by Jose Altuve to bring the tying run to the plate. After Michael Brantley nearly tied it, missing a homer by mere feet, Alex Bregman would get the job done in the next at-bat, a two-run blast to make it 4-4.
BRAND. NEW. GAME.#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/C1I8yn5vUq
— Houston Astros (@astros) September 8, 2021
They wouldn't get the walk-off win then, though, as the game headed to extras. Ryne Stanek took on the task of eliminating the free runner in the top of the tenth and did it with some solid defense behind him to give the Astros another chance. Yuli Gurriel started the bottom of the tenth on second base and scored immediately as Carlos Correa would lead off the inning with the game-winner, an RBI ground-rule double to walk it off and give the Astros the series win.
Up Next: This series's third and final game and the last time these teams will face each other in the regular season will get underway at 1:10 PM Central on Wednesday. Tyler Anderson (1-1, 3.38 ERA) is slated to be on the mound for Seattle, while Jose Urquidy (6-3, 3.42 ERA) will have the ball for Houston.
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Astros keep doing this, and it’s getting hard to ignore
Jun 25, 2025, 10:01 pm
While the rolling Astros have a week of possible World Series preview matchups against the Phillies and Cubs, it’s the Rockets who made the biggest local sports headline with their acquisition of Kevin Durant. What a move! Of course there is risk involved in trading for a guy soon to turn 37 years old and who carries an injury history, but balancing risk vs. reward is a part of the game. This is a fabulous move for the Rockets. It’s understood that there are dissenters to this view. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, including people with the wrong opinion! Let’s dig in.
The Rockets had a wonderful season in winning 52 games before their disappointing first-round playoff loss to the Warriors, but like everyone else in the Western Conference, they were nowhere close to Oklahoma City’s caliber. While they finished second in the West, the Rockets only finished four games ahead of the play-in. That letting the stew simmer with further growth among their young players would yield true championship contention was no given for 2025-26 or beyond.
Kevin Durant is one of the 10 greatest offensive players the NBA has ever seen. Among his current contemporaries only Stephen Curry and Nikola Jokic make that list. For instance, Durant offensively has clearly been better than the late and legendary Kobe Bryant. To view it from a Houston perspective, Durant has been an indisputably greater offensive force than the amazing Hakeem Olajuwon. But this is not a nostalgia trip in which the Rockets are trading for a guy based on what he used to be. While Durant could hit the wall at any point, living in fear that it’s about to happen is no way to live because KD, approaching his 18th NBA season, is still an elite offensive player.
As to the durability concern, Durant played more games (62) this past season than did Fred VanVleet, Jabari Smith, and Tari Eason. The season before he played more games (75) than did VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, and Alperen Sengun. In each of the last two seasons Durant averaged more minutes per game (36.9) than any Rocket. That was stupid and/or desperate of the Suns, the Rockets will be smarter. Not that the workload eroded Durant’s production or efficiency. Over the two seasons he averaged almost 27 points per game while shooting 52 percent from the floor, 42 percent from behind the three-point line, and 85 percent from the free throw line. Awesomeness. The Rockets made the leap to being a very good team despite a frankly crummy half-court offense. The Rockets ranked 21st among the 30 NBA teams in three-point percentage, and dead last in free throw percentage. Amen Thompson has an array of skills and looks poised to be a unique star. Alas, Thompson has no credible jump shot. VanVleet is not a creator, Smith has limited handle. Adding Durant directly addresses the Rockets’ most glaring weakness.
The price the Rockets paid was in the big picture, minimal, unless you think Jalen Green is going to become a bonafide star. Green is still just 23 years old and spectacular athletically, but nothing he has done over four pro seasons suggests he’s on the cusp of greatness. In no season has Green even shot the league average from the floor or from three. His defense has never been as good as it should be given his athleticism. Compared to some other two-guards who made the NBA move one year removed from high school, four seasons into his career Green is waaaaaay behind where Shae Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, and Devin Booker were four seasons in, and now well behind his draft classmate Cade Cunningham. Dillon Brooks was a solid pro in two seasons here and shot a career-best from three in 2024-2025, but he’s being replaced by Kevin Durant! In terms of the draft pick capital sent to Phoenix, five second round picks are essentially meaningless. The Rockets have multiple extra first round picks in the coming years. As for the sole first-rounder dealt away, whichever player the Rockets would have taken 10th Wednesday night would have been rather unlikely to crack the playing rotation.
VanVleet signs extension
Re-signing Fred VanVleet to a two-year, 50 million dollar guarantee is sensible. In a vacuum, VanVleet was substantially overpaid at the over 40 mil he made per season the last two. He’s a middle-of-the-pack starting point guard. But his professionalism and headiness brought major value to the Rockets’ kiddie corps while their payroll was otherwise very low. Ideally, Reed Sheppard makes a leap to look like an NBA lead guard in his second season, after a pretty much zippo of a rookie campaign. Sheppard is supposed to be a lights-out shooter. For the Rockets to max out, they need two sharpshooters on the court to balance Thompson’s presence.
For Astro-centric conversation, join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday. Click here to catch!
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